Monday, July 16, 2018

Trump Congratulates Putin On Hosting 'Great' World Cup

US President Donald Trump congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin on Russia having hosted "one of the best" FIFA World Cups in
history as the two leaders started their first full-fledged summit in
the Finnish capital Helsinki on Monday.

"First of all, Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really
great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and
also for your team, itself, doing so well," Trump said.

He added that had watched the semi-finals and the final, which were
"spectacular," while the entire tournament was "beautifully" organized.

Putin and Trump arrived in Finland on Monday for their first one-on-one
talks that will cover a wide range of issues, including Syria, Ukraine
and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Russia's first-ever World Cup came to a close on Sunday, with France
beating Croatia 4-2 in Moscow to lift the trophy for the second time.
Russia reached the quarter-finals of their home tournament after
advancing to the knockout stage for the first time since the end of the
Soviet era.